Over the years, Rick Fried has severed both his Achilles tendons, undergone knee surgery, battled tennis elbow and then surgery, and endured more hamstring strains than he can count. At 84, he quips that doctors have managed to fix them all, but aging, he admits with a grin, is the only issue slowing him down.
That resilience, mixed with good humor and lifelong passion for tennis, is what defines Fried both on and off the court. As captain of the University of Arizona’s top-ranked tennis team in the 1960s, he competed against some of the era’s greats, including then-UCLA Bruin and the legendary Arthur Ashe, whom he lost to in two nail-biting sets that Fried still considers as the highlight of his collegiate career. Later, he built one of Hawaiʻi’s most successful plaintiff’s law firms, but he never strayed far from the game that shaped him. Tennis has remained his constant, his joy and now, one of his causes.
This year, Fried turned his enduring love for the sport into action, making a gift of more than $100,000 to elevate the UH men’s tennis program. His support will fund scholarships, an assistant coach, equipment upgrades and player development tools – critical resources that Fried believes can help push the team into the national spotlight.
“I know firsthand how powerful tennis can be, not just physically but mentally and emotionally,” he said. “UH has the talent and leadership to grow a program that can compete at the highest levels. I want to help accelerate that journey.”
Central to his confidence is a multi-year plan that he hopes will elevate the men’s team into the top 30 nationally. Fried highlights the strategy to bring a series of International Tennis Federation (ITF) future events to Hawaiʻi, creating opportunities and a steady pipeline for UH athletes to compete against elite national and international players, while also positioning UH as a hub for community tennis.
“And while they’re here, maybe we will be able to convince them to play for UH,” said Fried of visiting ITF players. “There's no reason the men's team can't compete on the same level.”
For Fried, the true measure of success lies in community and building something lasting. And yes, rankings. “The women’s team has generally done better overall, and the men’s team is just as capable of competing at that same level,” he said. “Success begets more success, and you will get more people to come out and watch the matches.”
Even now, Fried isn’t content to watch from the sidelines. Inducted into the USTA Hawai‘i Pacific Section Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008, he still competes nationally and internationally, and he will soon participate in tournaments in Hong Kong and Shanghai in the 80-84 age category, representing the U.S. His philosophy is unchanged: play hard, play fair, be honest and let integrity guide every decision.
It’s the same ethos that has guided his legal career, philanthropy and community service. His gift to UH Men’s Tennis is deeply personal – rooted in the perseverance it took to succeed as a student-athlete and his belief in the potential of today’s players.
“When I watch these UH players, I don’t see much difference between them and the players you see at the U.S. Open,” Fried said. “They have the same power, but they don’t have the consistency.”
As Hawaiʻi tennis enters a new era, Fried’s generosity is both a rallying call and a reminder: “I’m hopeful with my contribution, others will be encouraged to join in,” Fried said, “whether it’s tennis or other UH sports.”
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